DHA names AXA as ‘participating insurer’

Dubai, April 2, 2014

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has named AXA Gulf, a leading non-life international insurer in the Middle East, as a participating insurer (PI) to offer health insurance coverage under the ‘Basic Benefit Plan.’

The PI status is provided to a few selected insurers by DHA after a rigorous evaluation process based on various criteria such as the insurer’s capacity, financial capacity, financial standing and performance in the healthcare sector.

The status provides insurers the rights to offer coverage to the population segment with monthly less than Dh4,000 ($1,088.8) under any plan including the ‘Basic Benefit Plan.’

As per the Health Insurance Law, companies with more than 1,000 employees will be required to ensure every employee with health insurance coverage by the end of October (Phase 1).

In the second phase of the plan, companies with 100-999 employees must implement full health insurance coverage by July 2015.

Under a third phase, companies with less than 100 employees have until June 2016 to arrange for complete insurance coverage.

The DHA timetable demands that spouses and dependents as well as domestic workers must also be fully insured for basic health coverage by end of the third phase in June 2016.

Jérôme Droesch, CEO of AXA Gulf, said: “We are extremely honoured to be nominated as a participating insurer and being given the permit to offer the comprehensive Basic Benefit Plan mandatory as per the new Health Insurance Law.

“We are geared to handle the additional members and services required of us in line with the new legislation. In fact, we have already mobilized our resources for the same. I am sure the efforts we have made on the quality of service, our global expertise and our innovative solutions have supported our submission.”

The company has also announced plans to recruit, train and deploy the necessary resources in the coming months.

Ghulam Mohammed Teli, chief officer health and life at AXA Gulf, said: “Since the inception, we have always tailored our products and services in line with the requirements of our customers. AXA Gulf’s platform has the capacity to immediately absorb a significant increase in the number of members with a Basic health Benefit Plan while maintaining the same quality of service – so we are well equipped for the future growth trajectory.” - TradeArabia News Service